Thill-coupling.



No.. 739,683. v PATENTE!) SEPT. 22, 1903. J. N. KEAGH.

THILL GGUPLING@ APPLIOTION FILED JLY 9,'19'03.

H0 MODEL. Z'SHEETS-SHEET-l. V

Ja S. Mlsgn #{eq eh.

www mm UNITED STATE-s Patented September 22, 190.

JAMES NELSON KEACH, OF BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,683, datedSeptember 22, 1903. Application liled .Tuly 9, 1903. Serial No. 164.858.(No model.)

clips or detached from the latter and to have the thill-irons whenattached to the clips prevented from movement or undue wear on thecoupling pins or projections.

In thill couplings or shackles as heretofore constructed in manyinstances the operation of attaching and disconnecting the thill-ironsfrom the clips required such a complex manipulation that the use of thesame were undesirable, and the present invention is intended to overcomeinconveniences encountered in the couplings now generally used.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of theseveral parts, which'.

will be more fully hereinafter discribed and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a coupling or shackleembodying the features of the invention and showing a portion of athill-iron and thill attached thereto. Fig.

. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the center of thepartszas shown by Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section'on the line 33, Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a'ltransverse vertical section taken through thecoupling in advance of the clip. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of thecoupling shown open andthe securing element detached. Fig. 6 is a detailperspecf tive view of the securing element or keeper. Similar numeralsof reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the severalviews.

Theimproved coupling or shackle includes in its organization the usualform of clip 1,V

wardly-projecting arm 5 at one end and a pivoted latch 6 at the oppositeend, with a re cess 7' opening out through its inner side adjacent tothe free end thereof. Projecting transversely across the head from thearm 5 is a coupling pin or projection '7, which is an integral part ofthe said arm and of such length as to project into the recess or socket7', opening out through the inner side of the latch 6.

The rear end of au approximately oval flat spring 8 is secured to therear leg of the clip 1, the lower horizontal portion 9 of said sprin gbeing' projected a considerable distance in advance of the clip andcontinued into an upper semicircular curvel having a greater arc thanthe rear curved -extremity of said spring and terminating in an arm 10,having acurved end 11 to bear against the eye 12 of the thill-iron 13.The curved end 11 projects upwardly between the arm 5 and the latch 6 inrear of the pin or projection 7, and when the eye 12 of the thill-ironis coupled thecurved end l1 bears with considerable pressure against therear portion of said eye and serves as an antirattling means withobviousadvantages. The couplingalsoincludes a locking element or keeper14. (Clearly shown in detail by Fig. 6.) This element or keeper consistsof an upper locking-plate 15, long enough to extend across the upperedge of the arm 5 and the similar edge of the latch 6 when the latter isclosed, and said plate has depending end flanges 16 to take over theouter sides of the arm 5 and latch. Depending from the center of theplate 15 is an eyebolt 17, with 1 the eye thereof directed downwardlyand engaged by the upper looped end of an elongated link 18, having itslower terminals secured in the opposite sides of the forward extremityef a cam-lever 19. The forward extremity of the cam-lever 19 isbifurcated, and therein an antifrictional roller 20..

is mounted. The linklS gradually increases in width toward its lowerextremity until the opposite members thereof are fai-enough apart toembrace the lower horizontal portion 9 of the spring 8, and in applyingthe locking ele'- ment or keeper in operative position the link 1S ispassed `downwardly between the arm 5 of the coupling-head 4 and thelatch 6 and attached to the cam-lever 19, so that the lock- ICOing-plate will always be in position to perform its function.

The cam-lever 19 operates against the under side of the horizontalportion 9 of the spring 8, and by attaching the terminals of the -link18 `to the said lever at a predetermined point in rear of the forwardextremity thereof an eccentric operation ensues, which will cause thesaid lever to be located when closed against the horizontal portion 9 ofthe spring, and thus prevent the locking-plate 15 from slipping out ofplace. In the operation of coupling a thill-iron and thill to theimproved device the cam-lever 19 is forced downwardly to cause theroller 2O to move over the under side of the horizontal portion 9 of thespring 8 and slip through the lower part of the link 1Sto permit thesaid lever to be overturned and loosen the locking-plate 15 suflcientlyto permit the end flanges 16 thereof to be elevated and disengaged fromthe arm 5 and latch 6. The latch is then opened to expose the free endof the pin or projection 7, and the eye 12 of the thill-iron 13 is thenslipped laterallyover the said pin or projection and in contact with theupper curved end 11 ofthe spring 8. The latch is then closed, thelocking-plate 15 pressed downwardly over the'arrn 5 and latch',and thecam-lever drawn rearwardly under the horizontal portion of the spring 9and turned until it assumes the position shown by Figs. 1 and 2, andthereby hold the latch 6 against movement and reliably connect thethill-iron to the improved coupling. leasing the thill-ironthe operationof loosening the locking-plate 15 will be pursued and the latch opened,so that the eye 12 can be slipped off the pin or projection 7. Eitheroperation can be quickly carried on without resorting to a complexadjustment or manipulation of the several parts.

It will be observed that the eye 12 of the thill-iron does not have tobe modified in the least relatively to the ordinary form of suchdevices, and the features of construction embodying the invention residewholly in the coupling proper carried by the clip. This is materiallyadvantageous from a standpoint of economy and manufacture, and it willbe understood to accommodate -various applica In re? with a rigid armprojecting forwardly from one end thereof and carryingatransverselyextending coupling projection, a latch pivotally secured tothe oppositeend of the head and having a recess to receive the freeterminal of the said projection, a spring depending from and projectingforwardly in advance of the coupling and having an upwardly-extendingend in rear of the coupling projection, and a locking element having' aplate to fit over the arm of the head and latch and provided with adepending link einbracing the lower portion of the spring and attachedto a cam-lever movable against the lower part of said spring to hold theplate in locked position.

2. In a thill-coupling, the combination of a coupling-head having atransverse coupling projection, a latch at one end to receive the freeend 0f the said projection, a spring having a forward end extendingupwardlyin rear ofthe coupling projection, and a locking element havinga plate to engage the latch and one end of the head and connected to thelower cam-lever which operates against the lower portion of the spring.

3. A thill-coupling, consisting of a clip having a coupling-head with aforwardly-projecting arm carrying a transversely-extending couplingprojection, and a latch at the opposite end to engage the saidprojection, a spring held by the clip and having a lower horizontalportion, and a locking element consisting of a plate disposed on thehead to engage the latch and connected to a cam-lever operating againstthe under side of the horizontal portion of the spring.

4. A thill-coupling, consisting of a clip having a coupling-head with arigid arm carrying a transversely-extending coupling projection, and alatch to receive the free terminal of said projection, a spring securedto the clip and depending below and extending -in advance of the latter,and a locking element having' a plate engaging said head and latchthereof and loosely connected to a camlever adapted to bear against aportion of the spring.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES NELSON KEACH.

Witnesses:

W. P. JONES, CLARK GIDEoN.

IOO

